Page 101 of House Ignis

Then Ryven—because of course it would be Ryven—blurted out, "Wait… so you guys didn't hook up?"

I choked so hard on my moonberry muffin I nearly saw stars. "RYVEN!"

Maddy slapped my back. "Gods, Ryv, do you want her to die before the Aegos Trials?"

I croaked, wiping my eyes and glaring at them all. They were still staring at me expectantly, like I was an exhibit in a scandal museum. "Gods, no," I snapped. "Guys, I'm betrothed, remember?"

They all burst out laughing.

"That's, like, in four years," Sera said dryly, sipping her juice.

"And the bond's kinda hard to ignore anyway," Ezra added, smirking as he glanced at Asher. Oh gods. He knew. Of course he knew about the bedroom incident.

"No," I said, lifting my chin. "We are not hooking up. Bummer for you guys."

The collective pout across the table was almost impressive.

"We're just friends," I added firmly. "There are boundaries in place to make sure this bond doesn't make me lose my mind."

Ember smirked into her goblet.

"Yes. Besties," Asher added with far too much smugness, casually taking one of my blueberries and popping it into his mouth. Then, he draped an arm over the back of my chair like he owned the place. Shadows coiled around my neck, lazy and possessive.

I elbowed him. "Stop."

And then—because the universe hates me—Ryven leaned forward again. "So… you wouldn't mind if he hooked up with someone else, right?"

My heart thundered. I felt the bond twist, something sharp and territorial slicing through my gut. The flames responded before I could think—curling up my arms like fire-kissed armor. Everyone froze. I exhaled, deep and controlled, forcing the fire back.

Then I turned to Asher, meeting those infuriating silver eyes.

"I'd love to hear the answer to that, Firecracker," he said, his lips curving wickedly. "Because I do have needs."

I nearly launched a muffin at his head. Instead, I smirked—sharp, royal, and dangerous.

"Of course he can. I have my own male to handle my needs."

Silence.

Everyone suddenly found their food fascinating. Asher's smirk didn't falter, but the shadows around my neck tightened, turning cold as ice.

Even Aether, perched beside the table, let out a low snort that might've been a laugh.

Asher just chuckled under his breath, shadows swirling slowly at his fingertips. "Right. Strictly professional, then."

"Strictly," I said through gritted teeth.

Gods, someone please drop a temple on me.

•••

My damn glued-on bond had finally left for some mandatory Umbra training sessions. Thank the gods. It was like being bonded to Aether—exhausting. I could finally breathe again. For the first time in days, I wasn't being shadow-stalked or smirked at. No blood-bound banter. No smug bodyguard reminding me to hydrate or train or not die.

It was just me.

I wandered back to my dorm, the late afternoon sunlight casting soft golden streaks across the floor. I had a few hours before the girls would inevitably descend to get ready for the Terra party, but right now, I wanted to paint. It was the one thing that grounded me, reminding me who I was before politics, before grief, and before all this chaos.

Only a few people knew I painted—Ember, Maddy, maybe Ryven. Not even Jeremy. It was my sacred ritual. My calm. Even Aether, curled up on the chaise like a sleepy war beast, knew to leave me alone when I pulled out my brushes.